Sunday, December 29, 2019

John Dickert - Wikipedia

John T. Dickert (born December 6, 1962) is an American Democratic politician and was the 57th mayor of Racine, Wisconsin. He now works as the executive director of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative.[1] He was elected mayor in a 2009 special election and was re-elected twice, in 2011 and 2015. He resigned in 2017 to assume his current role.

Early life[edit source]

Dickert's familial roots extend three generations in Racine. In 1880, his great-great grandfather arrived and started a family and small plumbing business, Dickert Brothers Plumbing Company. That business lasted more than a century.[2] John Dickert was born December 6, 1962. He attended St. Catherine's High School and received his bachelor's degree in political science and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.[3] While in college, he was elected to the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors. Dickert then worked as an intern for Congressman Les Aspin in Washington D.C. Dickert returned to Racine to serve as Congressional District Director for State Assemblyman Peter Barca. Dickert ran twice in Democratic primary elections for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 61st district against Robert Turner, but was defeated both times. Dickert became a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker in 2003 and First Weber in 2007, then ran for mayor of Racine in 2009.[3]

Mayoralty[edit source]


Dickert and other mayors meet with President Obama in the East Room of the White House
John Dickert served as mayor from May 2009 through July 2017. He was first elected to finish the term of Gary E. Becker, who had resigned in January after being charged with six felonies.[4] He was elected on May 5, 2009, and was inaugurated on May 19,[5] taking over from acting Mayor Tom Friedel. After winning regular elections in August 2011 and again in August 2015, Dickert ultimately served one full term and two partial terms.[6]
While mayor, Dickert served as president of the Urban Alliance, a group of mayors from Wisconsin’s largest metro regions, from its creation in 2011 until he was succeeded by Manitowoc mayor Justin Nickels in 2014.[7][8] Dickert also served on the United States Conference of Mayors, primarily as Vice Chair of the Metro Economies Committee,[9] as well as on its Mayors Water Council.[10] Additionally, he was a member of Governor Scott Walker’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Council.[11]
On March 27, 2017, Dickert announced his plans to resign from the mayoralty to take the position of executive director at the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a binational group of U.S. and Canadian "mayors and local officials working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River."[12] Dickert had previously served on the organization's board of directors, and was the chairman of the board between 2014 and 2015.[13]
Dickert formally resigned on July 16, 2017, and Dennis Wiser, previously president of the Racine City Council, automatically became acting mayor. Democrat Cory Mason was elected Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin on November 7, 2017 after winning the special election.[1]

Personal life[edit source]

Dickert lives in Racine with his wife and two children Riley and Eleanor.[14]

Electoral history[edit source]

Wisconsin Assembly (1990, 2002)[edit source]

Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1990[15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Primary Election
DemocraticRobert L. Turner2,05646.14%
DemocraticJohn Dickert1,19326.77%
RepublicanRoderick D. Wilhelmi72216.20%
DemocraticCathleen A. Cotter48510.88%
Total votes4,456100.0%
General Election
DemocraticRobert L. Turner7,23262.09%
RepublicanRoderick D. Wilhelmi4,41537.91%
Total votes11,647100.0%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2002[16]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Primary Election
DemocraticRobert L. Turner (incumbent)3,19452.25%
DemocraticJohn Dickert2,91947.75%
Total votes6,113100.0%
General Election
DemocraticRobert L. Turner (incumbent)9,52598.15%-1.41%
Write-ins1801.85%+1.41%
Total votes9,705100.0%-29.48%
Democratic hold

Racine Mayor (2009-2015)[edit source]

Racine Mayoral Special Election, 2009[17]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Primary Election
IndependentJohn Dickert2,30723.09%
IndependentRobert L. Turner1,67116.73%
IndependentKimberly Plache1,31313.14%
IndependentJames Spangenberg1,24912.50%
IndependentGreg Helding1,15011.51%
IndependentPete Karas8518.52%
IndependentJody Harding6586.59%
IndependentQ.A. Shakoor II4144.14%
IndependentLesia Hill-Driver1611.61%
IndependentRaymond Fay1481.48%
IndependentJaimie Charon690.69%
Total votes9,991100.0%
General Election
IndependentJohn Dickert6,02755.46%
IndependentRobert L. Turner4,84144.54%
Total votes10,868100.0%
Racine Mayoral Election, 2011[18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
General Election
IndependentJohn Dickert11,37972.87%
IndependentEric Marcus4,23727.13%
Total votes15,616100.0%
Racine Mayoral Election, 2015[19]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
General Election
IndependentJohn Dickert5,39254.26%
IndependentMelvin Hargrove4,54645.74%
Total votes9,938100.0%


From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dickert

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